That moon I identified trees in winter

I photographed and identified trees from their bark everyday from the time it takes the moon to complete a cycle.

Moon Challenges are an idea I’ve borrowed from New England naturalist Josh Fecteau. He reworked a takeaway from a TED talk about 30-day personal challenges to be more nature-based.

Winter is the best time to dive into bark learning. The common giveaways of leaves and nuts aren’t available. I couldn’t have done it without a helpful guide: Bark: A Field Guide to Trees of the Northeast.

  • Shagbark hickory (young)

    Carya ovata | 2/26 | Water tower hill, Colchester, VT

  • Yellow birch

    Betula alleghaniensis | 2/25 | Williston, VT

  • Black/cherry birch

    Betula lenta | 2/24 | Williston, VT

  • Eastern white pine (young)

    Pinus strobus | 2/23 | Williston, VT

  • American hornbeam

    Carpinus caroliniana | 2/22 | Williston, VT

  • River birch

    Betula nigra | 2/20 | Woodstock, VT

  • Eastern Hemlock

    Tsuga canadensis | 2/19 | Hartland, VT

  • American Beech

    Fagus grandifolia | 2/18 | Quechee, VT

  • Quaking aspen (young)

    Populus tremuloides | 2/17 | Water tower hill, Colchester, VT

  • Black willow

    Salix nigra | 2/16 | Water tower hill, Colchester, VT

  • White oak (young)

    Quercus alba | 2/15 | Water tower hill, Colchester, VT

  • White oak

    Quercus alba | 2/14 | Water tower hill, Colchester, VT

  • White birch (young)

    Betula papyrifera | 2/13 | Williston, VT

  • Eastern red cedar

    Juniperus virginiana | 2/12 | Williston, VT

  • Northern white cedar

    Thuja occidentalis | 2/10 | Williston, VT

  • Boxelder (young)

    Acer negundo | 2/11 | Water tower hill, Colchester, VT

  • Balsam Fir

    Abies balsamea | 2/9 | Water tower hill, Colchester, VT

  • Boxelder (old)

    Acer negundo | 2/8 | Water tower hill, Colchester, VT

  • Hophornbeam

    Ostrya virginiana | 2/7 | Water tower hill, Colchester, VT

  • Red Pine

    Pinus resinosa | 2/6 | Water tower hill, Colchester, VT

  • Staghorn sumac

    Rhus typhina | 2/5 | Williston, VT

  • Sugar maple

    Acer saccharum | 2/2 | Water tower hill, Colchester, VT

  • Quaking aspen (old)

    Populus tremuloides | 2/1 | Water tower hill, Colchester, VT

  • Quaking aspen

    Populus tremuloides | 1/31 | Water tower hill, Colchester, VT

  • Eastern White Pine

    Pinus strobus | 1/30 | Water tower hill, Colchester, VT

  • White birch

    Betula papyrifera | 1/29 | Hancock trail, Grafton County, NH

  • Balsam fir

    Abies balsamea | 1/28 | Hancock trail, Grafton County, NH

  • Shagbark hickory

    Carya ovata | 1/27 | Water tower hill, Colchester, VT